Congress leader Nirupam, in his complaint, alleged that Irani had also made derogatory comments against him intentionally and knowing fully well that these “utterances are defamatory against the complainant.” ( Source: PTI )

A Delhi court Friday summoned Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani in a criminal defamation case filed against her by Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam. Irani will appear in court on September 27, based on a complaint filed by Nirupam in July 2013. Nirupam had alleged that in December 2012, when the Gujarat Assembly results were announced, Irani made defamatory and scurrilous remarks against him during a television debate.

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The complaint says, “The accused (Irani), a Member of Parliament of the BJP, defamed the complainant (Nirupam) by making direct aspersions on the character of the complainant.” It goes on to say that Nirupam’s “reputation of excellence and integrity has been dented due to the scurrilous, defamatory and derogatory comments made by accused during the said debate”.

Nirupam’s counsel argued that a legal notice had been sent to Irani on July 25 last year asking her to tender an “unconditional public apology”, but she had not replied.
Irani, too, had filed a defamation case against Nirupam for allegedly defaming her during the same TV debate.